[L'burg-Fire]

In Lynchburg, seven people say they're lucky to be alive after escaping from their burning home last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Fire crews were called to 113 Federal Street at about 11:30.
The two- story home was engulfed in flames when they arrived.
Initial reports that people were still trapped inside kept firefighters busy at first searching for possible victims.
No one was found inside the house, and it took about a half hour to bring the blaze under control.
Residents say the fire started on the front porch.
The fire marshal is investigating.
(------------)

[Baby-Microwave]

The woman accused of killing her newborn baby in a microwave oven will be in court this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

19 year old Elizabeth Renee Otte (Oh-tay) will appear at a bond hearing.
[SUPER=03-Lanexa/File Tape]

Otte is accused of killing her baby in a microwave oven.
The body of one-month-old Joseph Martinez was found in the microwave after a deputy was called to the family's home after the baby was reported missing.
(------------)

[E-C'burg-Hostage]

In the words of one Christiansburg police officer-- it was a terrible situation that could have gone either way.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

Shortly after seven last night-- dispatchers learned that a man living in an apartment below the Deli Mart on West Main street was threatening to kill himself.
When officers arrived and looked through the window, they saw that he was holding a shotgun to his throat.
At first, a dispatcher tried to talk the man into coming outside.
When that failed-- a Christiansburg officer began negotiating and was eventually able to enter the apartment.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I said]
((CAPT. TOM LAWSON/CHRISTIANSBURG POLICE DEPT.: I SAID LET ME BE YOUR FRIEND, JUST TRUST ME THIS ONE TIME. AND, AT THAT POINT, HE DROPPED HIS HEAD AND STARTED TO CRY AND I SEEN HIM TAKE HIS FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER AND WHEN HE DID HE JUST KIND OF MOVED THE BUTT TOWARD ME AND I REACHED OUT AND GOT IT FROM UNDER HIS CHIN. ))
[SUPER=01-Capt. Tom Lawson/Christiansburg Police Dept.; :00]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=his chin.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Captain Lawson says it was a situation that could've easily ended negatively-- had it not been for his fellow officers' patience and ability to work together.
(------------)

[Britain-Train]

More than 100 people have been injured in a fiery train collision this morning in London.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-London, England]

Several of the injuries are reported serious.
Witnesses say they've seen bodies in the wreckage, but there has been no official confirmation of any fatalities.
The two commuter trains collided at the height of rush hour.
At least one train reportedly derailed and caught fire.
Police say as many as 100 passengers may still be trapped in the wreckage.

(-------)[state-farm]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Big changes could be in store for the auto insurance industry.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]

A jury in Illinois ordered State Farm Insurance to pay more than four hundred and fifty million dollars for using substandard parts in auto-collision repairs.
A trade group calls the verdict the biggest ever against an insurer.
State Farm claims they were just trying to hold their customer's costs down when they used what's known in the industry as after market supplies.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((DON BARETT/ATTORNEY:THEY'RE CHEAP, FLIMSY IMITATION PARTS.
JACK NORTH/STATE FARM: DURING THE ENTIRE 6 WEEKS OF EVIDENCE, THE PLAINTIFFS ATTORNEYS DID NOT BRING FORTH A SINGLE POLICY HOLDER WHO SUFFERED AN INJURY OF ANY KIND. ))
[SUPER=01-Don Barett/Attorney; :01 QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=01-Jack North/State Farm; :07]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=of any kind]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

State Farm plans to appeal.
(------------)

[mci-sprint]

It could be the largest corporate takeover in history.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
[3:13:25]
Later today M-C-I is expected to announce it's buying sprint.
A source says Sprint has accepted M-C-I's 115 BILLION dollar bid.
The boards of both companies reportedly voted to approve the deal yesterday.
Executives with rival Bell South met through the night trying to hammer out a counter offer.
M-C-I is the nation's second largest long distance carrier, Sprint is the third.
(---------------)

[1-Sports]

In sports, the Mets win the National League wild card spot and advance to the playoffs.
Denise Allen has that, plus the first casualty among Major League managers.
Good Morning Denise.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good morning guys]
[RUNS=1:48]
[OUT Q=stay with us]

[E-City-Council]

The plan to revive Henry Street is moving forward after more than a decade of controversy and delay. But the direction of the project continues to raise questions.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

The city has committed money to the project, and the Roanoke Neighborhood Development Corporation is working to complete the financing that will allow construction to begin.
But at a meeting of city council, three architects questioned whether the current plan is the best vision for the community.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A lot of opportunity]
((CRAIG BALZER/ROANOKE ARCHITECT: A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS AND NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT IS PRECLUDED BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE OFFICE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT AND NOW THE PARKING GARAGE THAT WILL CERTAINLY BRING CONVENIENCE TO THOSE COMING TO HENRY STREET, BUT AT THE SAME TIME FORCE OUT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL INVESTORS TO CREATE SMALL VENUES FOR THE AREA.))
[SUPER=01-Craig Balzer/Roanoke Architect]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=small venues for the area.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

The plan developed by the Roanoke Neighborhood Development Corporation is anchored by an office building.
Advocates say the project will bring workers to the area during the day, and others seeking food or entertainment at night.

[E-Elizabeth-Campus]

Five Salem residents have filed a lawsuit to stop the construction of a water tower on the Elizabeth Campus property.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

Nora Smith says she doesn't want to see the 12 story structure towering over her house on Lynchburg Turnpike every day... she's afraid it will lower property values in the neighborhood.
She and others neighbors say the city should either put the tower at the Civic Center, or find a way to reduce the impact on the community.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 02:04:26]
[IN Q=one thing we]
((NORA SMITH/NEIGHBOR; ONE THING WE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY THEY CAN'T BUILD TWO SMALLER TOWERS INSTEAD OF THIS ONE GIGANTIC TOWER. WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE SO BIG, SO OBVIOUS, AND JUST SO UNNECESSARY.))
[SUPER=01-Nora Smith/Neighbor;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=so unnecessary]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

This is the third lawsuit aimed at stopping development at the Elizabeth Campus site.
The City Attorney says his office is still reviewing the suit, and can't comment yet.
(------------)

[E-Framatome]

President Clinton wants American nuclear fuel plants to re- evaluate their safety procedures in the wake of last week's accident in Japan.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.]

Seven U-S companies are involved in uranium fuel processing and recycling.. two of those are located just outside Lynchburg.
But officials at Framatome Cogema (co-JEM-uh) Fuels say their work only involves the use of dry uranium pellets, and NO chemical reactions.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:21:09]
[IN Q=It's inherently]
((JOHN MATHESON/FRAMATOME V.P. OPERATIONS: IT'S INHERENTLY SAFER FROM EVERYTHING THEY WERE DOING IN JAPAN FROM WHAT I'VE READ. EVEN IF WE HAD A PROCESS LIKE THAT WE WOULD NEVER HANDLE MATERIAL IN THAT WAY HERE. WE WOULD HAVE A VOLUME METRICALLY CONTROLLED PROCESS, SO WE'VE NEVER HAD A CRITICALITY EVENT.))
[SUPER=01-John Matheson/Framatome V. P. of Operations]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=a criticality event.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

B-W-X Technologies DOES process uranium for the nuclear fuel it makes for the U-S Navy.
But officials say the U-S nuclear industry is much more heavily regulated than Japan's, and the likelihood of a similar accident here is "extremely remote."
(------------)

[Health-Check]

In medical news, more children are turning to tobacco to lose weight.
Mika Brzezinski has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Mika Brzezinski/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
(( THERE IS DISTURBING NEWS TODAY ABOUT KIDS AND SMOKING.
VT-VO
A REPORT IN THIS MONTH'S JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS FOUND THAT SOME CHILDREN MAY SEE SMOKING AS A WAY TO SHED UNWANTED POUNDS.
RESEARCHERS SAY GIRLS WHO ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THEY LOOK ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO THINK ABOUT LIGHTING UP.
THE STUDY ALSO FOUND THAT BOYS WHO WORKED OUT TO LOSE WEIGHT WERE 90
PERCENT MORE LIKELY TO HAVE EXPERIMENTED WITH TOBACCO THAN THOSE WHO
DIDN'T.
RESEARCHERS NEVER DIRECTLY ASKED KIDS IF THEY SMOKED TO LOSE WEIGHT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SUGGEST THIS WAS A HEALTHY WAY TO GET THINNER.
VT-VO
A NEW DISCOVERY COULD HELP THE MORE THAN 14 MILLION AMERICANS WHO SUFFER FROM ASTHMA.
SCIENTISTS WITH THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SAY THEY'VE IDENTIFIED TWO GENES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RESPIRATORY DISORDER. THIS DISCOVERY COULD HELP REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF ATTACKS.
THE STUDY ON GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MICE FOUND THAT DECREASING THE ACTIVITY OF THE GENES IN QUESTION LOWERS THE SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ASTHMA.
VT-VO
A NEW STUDY CONFIRMS WHAT MANY PEOPLE WHO SLEEP WITH SNORERS ALREADY
KNOW. WHILE YOUR MATE SPENDS THE NIGHT SAWING WOOD...YOUR LEFT WITH THE
SPLINTERS OF A SLEEPLESS NIGHT.
RESEARCHERS AT THE MAYO CLINIC STUDY 10 MARRIED COUPLES. THE HUSBANDS
WERE BEING TREATED FOR OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA..A DISORDER WHERE BREATHING STARTS AND STOPS AS SOMEONE SNORES.
WHEN THEY WERE OUTFITTED WITH AN OXYGEN MASK LIKE DEVICE THAT STOPPED THE SNORING... WIVES GOT ON AVERAGE AN EXTRA HOUR OF SLEEP.
ONCAM-MIKA
AND THAT'S A LOOK AT THE DAY IN MEDICINE. I'M MIKA BRZEZINSKI, CBS NEWS, NEW YORK.))
(ad lib to weather)

Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

A London hospital says more than 100 people were injured -- at least 17 seriously -- in this morning's collision of two commuter trains.
One official says some passengers- are still trapped in the wreckage.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Seven people escaped a house fire overnight in Lynchburg.
The house on Federal Street was already engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And Spring and M-C-I WorldCom are expected to merge in what would be the largest corporate takeover in history.
A source says Sprint has accepted M-C-I's 115 billion-dollar bid.
The source says M-C-I sweetened its offer of 93 billion, rather than risk losing Sprint to rival BellSouth.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And that's what's making news on this Tuesday, October fifth.
[ANCHOR=Steve]

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

[2-L'burg-Fire]

Fire forced seven people from their home in Lynchburg last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Fire crews were called to 113 Federal Street at about 11:30.
By the time they arrive the two- story home was already engulfed in flames.
Initial reports that people were still trapped inside kept firefighters busy searching.
But no one was found inside.
It then took about a half hour to bring the blaze under control.
Residents say the fire started on the front porch.
The fire marshal is investigating.
(------------)

[2-Baby-Microwave]

The woman accused of killing her newborn baby in a microwave oven faces another court appearance later today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

19 year old Elizabeth Renee Otte (Oh-tay) will appear at a bond hearing.
[SUPER=03-Lanexa/File Tape]

Authorities believe last month Otte put the baby in the microwave and turned it on.
The body of one-month-old Joseph Lewis Martinez was found in the microwave after a deputy was called to the family's home when the baby was reported missing.
(------------)

[2-E-C'burg-Hostage]

There were some tense moments in Christiansburg last night, as police tried to disarm a man threatening suicide.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

At about seven last night-- dispatchers learned that a man living in an apartment below the Deli Mart on West Main street was threatening to kill himself.
When officers arrived and looked through the window, they saw that he was holding a shotgun to his throat.
At first, a dispatcher tried to talk the man into coming outside.
When that failed-- a Christiansburg officer began negotiating and was eventually able to enter the apartment.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I said]
((CAPT. TOM LAWSON/CHRISTIANSBURG POLICE DEPT.: I SAID LET ME BE YOUR FRIEND, JUST TRUST ME THIS ONE TIME. AND, AT THAT POINT, HE DROPPED HIS HEAD AND STARTED TO CRY AND I SEEN HIM TAKE HIS FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER AND WHEN HE DID HE JUST KIND OF MOVED THE BUTT TOWARD ME AND I REACHED OUT AND GOT IT FROM UNDER HIS CHIN. ))
[SUPER=01-Capt. Tom Lawson/Christiansburg Police Dept.; :00]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=his chin.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Captain Lawson says it was a situation that could've easily ended negatively-- had it not been for his fellow officers' patience and ability to work together.
(------------)

[Henry-Murder]

Authorities are releasing details about a second deadly shooting in Henry County Friday.
41-year-old Bassett resident Rosa Lee Thomas was charged with murder and felony use of a firearm.
Her arrest comes after 38-year-old Bobby Dale Scott was shot and killed Friday night.
Over the weekend, 34-year-old Martinsville resident Darryl Carneal Law was charged with capital murder after the slaying of his uncle.
Both cases remain under investigation.

[E-581-Ax]

A four vehicle accident last night in Roanoke sent three people to the hospital.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The collision between the Elm and Orange Avenue exits left part of I-581 blocked.
The accident happened when Jennifer Ashworth of Lynchburg apparently hit the brakes for an unknown reason.
That sparked a chain reaction: 3 cars behind her smashed into each other.
3 people, including Ashworth, were taken to the hospital.
State police say an investigation into the accident is pending.
(------------)

[chicago-ax]

A woman and two children are dead after their car plunged into Lake Michigan last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL;]
[3;06:17]
The car apparently veered off Lake Shore Drive near downtown Chicago, traveled down some stairs and went into the lake.
Two police officers who dove into the cold water in an attempt to rescue the victims were rushed to the hospital, apparently suffering from hypothermia.
Both are reported in good condition.
(-----------)

[2-Britain-Train]

A fiery train collision at the height of London's rush hour has left as many as hundred people injured.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-London, England]

Several of the injuries are reported serious.
Police confirm that eight people were killed in the accident.
The two commuter trains collided at the height of rush hour.
At least one train reportedly derailed and caught fire.
Police say as many as 100 passengers may still be trapped in the wreckage.
(----------)

[2-mci-sprint]

If Federal regulators give their stamp of approval, it would be the biggest corporate buy out ever.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
[3:13:25]
Later today M-C-I is expected to announce it's buying sprint for 115 BILLION dollars.
The boards of both companies reportedly gave the proposal the thumbs up yesterday.
Executives with rival Bell South met through the night trying to hammer out a counter offer but apparently to no avail.
M-C-I is the nation's second largest long distance carrier, Sprint is the third.
(---------------)

[E-Bell-Atlantic]

If you have a name, you can get an address.
If you've got an address, you can get a phone number and a name.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henrico Co./File Tape;]

Bell Atlantic is already offering its "Call 54" service in northern Virginia.
But it needs regulators' permission to charge more for the information service-- making it good business to offer it statewide.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:42:22]
[IN Q=We have]
((PAUL MILLER/BELL ATLANTIC: WE HAVE AN OPT-OUT SERVICE THAT WE OFFER CUSTOMERS. AND THEY CAN SIMPLY CONTACT OUR BUSINESS OFFICE AND OPT-OUT OF THIS, WHICH MEANS THEIR NUMBER WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED.))
[SOT 16:43:48 ]
((KENT WILLIS/VIRGINIA ACLU: YOU HAVE TO ACT TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY. YOU HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO CALL THE PHONE COMPANY AND SAY TAKE MY NAME OUT.))
[SUPER=01-Paul Miller/Bell Atlantic; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kent Willis/Virginia ACLU; :12]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=my name out.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Staffers at the State Corporation Commission share the privacy concerns of the ACLU.
NO final decision has been made by the commissioners.
(------------)

[E-Fright-Nite]

[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-46 1:25]
[GRAPHIC=Halloween]
[***ANCHOR TAG***]
Halloween is only a few weeks away and haunted houses are already starting to open their doors.
But one is trying to find the right ghouls, ghosts and goblins.
Kate Weidaw has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :07]
[SUPER=01-Craig Slomczewski/Organizer; :32]
[SUPER=@Kate2; 1:09]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=N7 Salem]
(([SOT 39:13]
[INQ=]
((NAT SOUND: SCREAM))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= :5]
Some didn't need a costume to make the cut for Salem's newest haunted house called Nightmares. Organizers for the first annual Nites of Fright at the Thunder Valley Family Entertainment Center wanted actors and actresses to play the roles.
[SOT 41:53]
[INQ=]
((COME IN MEET YOUR FATE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= :5]
In two days this indoor race track will be transformed for the actors to begin their work.
[SOT 30:42]
[INQ=]
((CRAIG SLOMCZEWSKI/ORGANIZER: WE ARE GOING TO RIP UP THIS SHEET METAL AND TIRES AND WE HAVE A BUNCH OF ROOM WITH ZIG ZAGS AND IN THE DARK YOU WON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO NEXT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 16]
Slomczewski says this haunted house will be different from the rest because they will play on people's natural fears.
[SOT 29:22]
[INQ=]
((CRAIG SLOMCZEWSKI/ORGANIZER: WE WILL HAVE LIVE CREATURES AND YOU WILL NOT KNOW WHAT'S REAL WHAT'S FAKE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= :7]
And with a cast of actors ready to scare the life out of you, it might be one haunted house you don't want to pass up.

[E-Titanic]

How would you like to see the wreckage of the Titanic?
The Supreme Court won't stand in your way.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]

The justices upheld a lower court ruling that will not keep tourists away from the wreckage.
It was the company with exclusive rights to salvage artifacts that wanted the site off limits.
RMS Titanic argued visits would encourage lawlessness and anarchy on the high seas.
(------------)

[3-Sports]

In sports, U-V-A is bouncing back from losses both on and off the field.
Denise Allen has the details
Good Morning Denise.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good morning]
[RUNS=1:55]
[OUT Q=good day everybody]

Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Seven people say they're lucky to be alive after they escaped their burning home in Lynchburg last night.
Crews were called to 113 Federal Street around 11:30... the two- story building was engulfed in flames when they arrived.
No one was found inside the house, and it took about a half hour to bring the blaze under control.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

19 year old Elizabeth Renee Otte (Oh-tay) will be in court for a bond hearing.
Authorities believe last month Otte put her newborn baby in a microwave oven and turned on the appliance.
The body of one-month-old Joseph Lewis Martinez was found in the microwave oven after a deputy was called to the family's home on a report that the baby was missing.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Five Salem residents have filed a lawsuit to stop the construction of a water tower on the Elizabeth Campus property.
Neighbors say the city should either put the tower at the Civic Center, or find a way to reduce the impact on the community.
This is the third lawsuit aimed at stopping development at the Elizabeth Campus site.
The City Attorney says his office is still reviewing the suit, and can't comment yet.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(Steve mic hot)
(///////////////)
[2 shot=Mel/Spa]
(Steve ad lib weather)
(-------------)
(ad lib bye)
[2-SHOT]